'It is going to kill the quarter,' French Quarter resident says about city's proposed traffic plan

'It is going to kill the quarter,' French Quarter resident says about city's proposed traffic plan

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Updated: 9:20 PM CDT Apr 4, 2017

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WEBVTT EIR VOICESWERE HEARD.>> WE DID NOT SURVEY BUSINESSESON STREETS THAT WE DO NOTPROPOSE TO CHANGE.[YELLING]AUBRY: FROM YELLS.[CHEERING] [APPLAUSE]AUBRY: TO CHEERS.DOZENS PACKED OUT THE ST. JUDECOMMUNITY CENTER TUESDAY NIGHTIN THE FRENCH QUARTER.>> THERE WILL BE OPEN COMMENT ATTHE END OF THE PRESENTATION.AUBRY: AT FIRST, THE CITY WASONLY ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GIVETHEIR OPINIONS THROUGH COMMENTCARDS.THAT DIDN'T LAST. >> IT IS A QUESTION, SO I WOULDLIKE AN ANSWER.AUBRY: THIS IS WHAT THE CITYSAYS BOURBON COULD SOON LOOKLIKE.>> WHEN YOU ARE IN THE QUARTER,YOU ARE PAYING EITHER HIGH RENTOR YOU ARE PAYING HIGH TAXES.NOW THEY ARE LOOKING TO TURNTHIS INTO DISNEY LAND.THAT IS NOT -- THERE AREACTUALLY PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATEWHAT THIS CULTURE OF LOUISIANAIS ALL ABOUT.AUBRY: BOB SEVCIK OWNS A HOME INTHE QUARTER.>> I AM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLEWHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO BLOCKTHINGS OFF.♪AUBRY: IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TOPLAN, THE CITY SAYS THE CHANGESON BOURBON WOULD STRETCH FROMCANAL TO DUMAINE.>> WE ARE LOOKING ATRECONSTRUCTING THE PAVEMENT,REPLACING THE DRAIN LINES, WATERLINES AND POTENTIALLY THE SEWERLINES UNDERNEATH BOURBON STREET.AUBRY: MARK JERNIGAN IS THEDIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THECITYHE SAYS TO DO ALL OF THAT IT, WILL COST $6 MILLION.>> $4 MILLION FOR THE PAVING ANDTHE DRAINAGE, ANOTHER $2 MILLIONFOR SOME OF THE WATER AND SEWERUTILITIES UNDERNEATH.AUBRY: BUT MANY AT THE MEETINGWONDER IF THE IMPROVEMENTS WILLCOME WITH MORE OF A COST, DAMAGETO THEIR PROPERTY.>> WE ARE GOING TO BE MONITORINGNOISE VIBRATION, WE ARE LOOKINGAT WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE SURETHE BALCONIES ARE SECURE, WE ARETAKING THOSE STEPS AS PART OFTHE PLAN.AUBRY: MANY WERE OK WITH ASMOOTHER STREET, BUT SAY IFBOURBON CHANGES TO PEDESTRIANTRAFFIC ONLY, BUSINESES WILL-- BUSINESS WILL SUFFER.>> WE DO NOT WANT TO PUT THEMOUT OF BUSINESS, AND THAT ISESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU WOULD BEDOING.AUBRY: AND WHILE FRUSTRATION ISBUILDING, SEVCIK SAYS HE ISKEEPING HIS OPTIONS OPEN.

'It is going to kill the quarter,' French Quarter resident says about city's proposed traffic plan

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Part of the proposal would restrict part of Bourbon Street to pedestrian traffic only. The city wants to repave the popular tourist destination and not allow cars on the street at specific times.

Yells and cheers erupted Tuesday evening from dozens of people at the St. Jude Community Center. At first, the city was allowing people to give their opinions only through comment cards, but that didn't last.

"When you are in the Quarter, you are paying either high rent or high taxes. Now they are looking to turn this into Disneyland,” Bob Sevcik, who owns a home in the French Quarter, said. "I am right in the middle where they are trying to block things off."

If the plan is approved, the city said the changes on Bourbon would stretch from Canal Street to Dumaine Street.

"We are looking at reconstructing the pavement, replacing the drain lines, water lines and potentially the sewer lines underneath Bourbon Street,” Mark Jernigan, director of public works for the city, said.

Jernigan said construction would cost $6 million.

"(It will cost) $4 million for the paving and the drainage,” Jernigan said. “Another $2 million for some of the water and sewer utilities underneath."

But many at the meeting wonder if the improvements will come at a higher cost and also cause damage to their properties.

"We are going to be monitoring noise vibrations,” Jernigan said. “We are looking at what can we do to make sure the balconies are secure. We are taking those steps as part of the plan."

Several also said businesses will suffer, but the city said times will be established for companies affected by the construction to make deliveries.

The city proposed some of the security changes after recent terrorist attacks overseas.

Construction could start in April and wrap up by the end of the year.

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